CARS PREVIEW: Ford

Friday, May 21, 2010

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

The 3rd generation Ford Focus - basically an electric power steering

The Ford Focus has always been one of the best-handling C-segment cars I’ve ever driven. The biggest drawback it has for the Malaysian market is that it’s a little small on the inside, being an European product where their C-segment cars are a little smaller. Their Civic is a smaller hatch compared to the large 2,700mm wheelbase version we get here.

And here it is, the latest edition of the Focus. Ford pegs it as all-new, and technically it should be considering that the 2nd generation Focus has already been facelifted. So this is basically the third generation and for the first time the Focus is a world car instead of being two different products for North America and the rest of the world. I had a go at the North American product earlier this week and I can understand why American journos have been calling for Ford to bring the Euro Focus across the ocean. Well, they don’t have to do that anymore – they are going to get this new global Focus as well.

The design is far edgier compared to the outgoing Focus. Ford attempted to add some Kinetic Design elements to the current Focus when it got facelifted but because there’s just so much you can change during a facelift, the end result was not as ‘kinetic’ as say, the new Fiesta or the new Ford Kuga. With this new body, Ford has pulled out all the stops with their Kinetic Design – check out details like the ‘zorro Z’ design at the front wheel arch. The ducktail on the sedan’s boot is also pretty prominent. Some might feel it’s perhaps a little too overdone, especially the details of the front bumper. They look like they belong on an aggressive model like an ST or an RS, but these are just your regular Focus models. But this could also be a good thing for some customers – no mods needed.

Wheelbase has unchanged, though the new Focus is a little longer mostly due to pedestrian safety requirements. This means the overhangs are longer. What this will mean is that the interior space is probably largely unchanged over the 2nd generation. Ford says based on their market research this is a good balance between size and fuel economy but to me, for a world car there definitely will be markets where a larger vehicle will be called for. After all, that is why Honda split the CIvic in two. In these markets, certain buyers will look to other vehicles no matter how good the Focus looks simply because of interior space. The new 3rd generation Focus also differentiates between the sedan and the hatchback variant more than the 2nd generation did. The vertical tail lamps are gone on the hatchback in favor of wider rear glass but the tail lamps remain mounted high-ish.

Changes to the platform between the 2nd generation and the 3rd generation mostly covers the way the suspension subframes are mounted. There has been some changes which are primarily driven by the desire to increase the level of NVH damping of the Focus. Thus you can expect the new Ford Focus to feel a little more refined than the outgoing one. Techniques such as the use of sashed doors, dual plane sealing, more aerodynamic wing mirrors and windshield wipers are used. Ford says the new Focus Global C platform shares only about one third with the new Mazda 3, while the rest are exclusively Ford.

Ford wanted the new Focus to be more refined and more quiet, as quiet is one of the factors that we take into account when our brains process the feel of ‘quality’. Quietness is also a big thing for what Ford defines as the new Ford flavor these days – they are investing alot into ways they can make their cars more silent, as I will show you in an upcoming post.

The 3rd generation Ford Focus - basically an electric power steering

The Detroit showcar features a new 2.0 liter DI Ti-VCT engine. Those acronyms basically mean the engine has direct injection and dual variable valve timing, both on intake and exhaust. This new engine makes up to 20 horses more power than the current Mazda-based Duratec 20, while consuming 10% less fuel. The 4-speed auto has also been replaced by a new 6-speed Powershift dual clutch transmission. Apparently there is also an active grille shutter system, which shuts off some of the air intakes to improve aerodynamics whenever the extra cooling is not needed.

The new Focus will also debut an EPAS system for the first time. EPAS is basically an electric power steering. Alot of other manufacturers have started using EPAS systems in their cars but most people say an electric power steering is more ‘dead’ and unnatural compared to a regular hydraulic one. But Ford believes that a properly tuned EPAS can actually improve steering precision and feel over a hydraulic one.

The 3rd generation Ford Focus - basically an electric power steering

According to Ford, there are over 250 parameters and settings in an EPAS that has to be finetuned in detail to achieve a good feel. As the 2nd gen Focus was a great drive, I hope Ford got all the variables right! There’s also a Dynamic Cornering Control system which counteracts slip on the inner wheel during a corner to improve cornering performance and turn-in.

Also new is the MyFord system, which is basically like iDrive. You use a phone-style 5-way button on your steering wheel to control the user interface. MyFord is built on Microsoft Windows Auto. Quite a few companies are basing their new in-car systems on Windows Auto, such as Fiat’s Blue&Me and the new system from Kia. There’s also voice commands, so you can say Call Muthu for the phone to call up Muthu in your phonebook. MyFord is the sibling to the touch operation-based MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch showcased at the CES end of last year.

The 3rd generation Ford Focus - basically an electric power steering

This is one of 10 cars that will spawn from this new “Global C platform”, as Ford calls it. The first was the new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX MPVs which we saw at Frankfurt last year. Ford plans to put the this new third generation global Ford Focus into production for Europe and North America late this year, with a showroom debut in early 2011. It will be quite some time before it hits Malaysia (only early 2012 optimistically), but let me let you in on a secret – we’ll see an interesting new variant of the 2nd gen Focus here soon. This additional variant to the current generation Focus will feature diesel power!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Ford FPV Super Pursuit , 2008

FPV Super Pursuit,2008

The ultimate sports utility, the FPV Super Pursuit is packed with unrivalled performance matched by exquisite interior and exterior styling.
Matching the increased power is a premium FPV performance brake package, the FPV Super Pursuit features 355 x 32mm front rotors with Brembo six-piston calipers, and 328 x 26mm rear rotors with single red piston caliper.

FPV Super Pursuit styling

Never to be mistaken, the FPV Super Pursuit features new unique, high-impact badging on the tailgate, while the bold styling is highlighted by the unique front grille treatment, side striping and V8 bonnet bulge accented with the newly designed hood decal.

The new Dark or Mid Argent headlight accents are matched to the 19-inch machine faced alloy wheels with Dark Argent accents.
The performance FPV Super Pursuit is equipped with a 'power bulge' hard tonneau and spoiler as standard.

Inside the cabin, the FPV Super Pursuit features Super Pursuit logo embroidered sports seats in Shadow cloth with suede-feel bolsters and silver stitching. Shadow Leather sports seats are available at no extra cost.
The cabin is bursting with features to ensure a premium driving experience, including sports leather steering wheel with cruise control and audio mounted switches, new unique FPV starter button, and dual zone temperature control, power windows and alloy pedal covers.

V8 Boss 315

The Boss 315 has been completely re-calibrated to maximise response and driveability, and an improvement in volumetric efficiency allows the engine to breathe better.
Importantly, the increased power does not compromise on fuel economy and in automatic guise; the FPV Pursuit and FPV Super Pursuit boast fuel economy figures of 14.4L/100km.

Safety

The sports utilities feature Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), driver and passenger airbags, side head/thorax air bags mounted on the driver and passenger seats and Beltminder technology for the driver.
The sports utility range is protected by a remote alarm and FPV's ID Datadot identification.